JPS6090642A - Part inserting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the part carrying time and improve working efficiency by allowing a robot hand to support an accommodation case in which insertion parts are piled and stored and successively inserting said case into a plurality of inserted parts fixed onto a basic board and permitting automatic engagement and connection. CONSTITUTION:A part accommodating case 9 is supported by a hand 16, and the fingers 17a and 17b of a hand 17 are closed, and the side surface of a push button 2 which intrudes into a hollow part 10 from each cut groove 12 and positioned onto a lower opening part 13 side is caught and supported. When the hand 16 is lowered, the case 9 is lowered, and the fitting space 5 of the push button 2 is fitted with the projection 4 of a switch body 1, and each engagement hook 7 at the top edge of four engaging arms 6 is collided with the upper edge of the projection 4, and a repulsive force is generated, and a force for pushing-up the push button 2 acts. Since the push button is supported by the hand 17, insertion work is continued, and each engagement arm 6 is bent to sldiably move the engagement hook 7 onto each side wall of the projection 4. When insertion is completed, each engagement hook 7 is engaged with the lower edge of the projection 4 by the elastic return of each engaging arm 6. Thus, the carrying time for push button is shortened, and working efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an insertion component and an inserted component each having a locking means for inserting and locking each other into a plurality of inserted components identified on a board or base, etc. The present invention relates to a component insertion device that can automatically and quickly insert an insertion component into a component and perform the locking connection.

For example, in flat panel and flannel switches, a large number of push button switches are arranged and fixed in a lattice pattern at a predetermined pitch on a printed wiring board, and a wide flat push button is installed at the end of the push rod of the push button switch. A flexible plastic film with all its functions displayed corresponding to each switch is glued to it, and each pushbutton switch is opened/closed by pressing the plastic film. There is. By the way, in the push button switch used here, the switch body and the push button are generally formed separately, and various shapes of push buttons can be selected depending on the purpose of the push button switch, and the combination is made by connecting the push rod of the switch body and the push button. A locking means that can be inserted into each other and locked and connected is provided on each L, and a push button is inserted into the push rod of the switch body and the two locking means are locked, so that the two can be integrally connected. It looks like this. In the assembly process of the flat panel switch, the switch body and push button of such a push button switch are connected after a large number of switch bodies are arranged and fixed at predetermined positions on the 7° lint wiring board for convenience of assembly work. Conventionally, this type of joining work is done by manually inserting the push buttons into the switch body one by one, or by using a robot to continuously feed the push buttons to the parts extraction position using a parts feeder, and then inserting the push buttons into the switch body one by one by hand. Low? A method is adopted in which the pushbuttons are fully automatically inserted into a large number of switch bodies by grasping one pushbutton with the hand of a switch, repeatedly transporting and inserting it at each position 1 of each switch body on the board. was. However, the manual method is extremely inefficient, and the automatic method using a robot hand is more efficient than the manual method, but it requires removing parts from each switch body on the printed wiring board. Since each push button has to be transported from one position to another, the transport time occupies a large proportion of the actual working time, resulting in long working time and low work efficiency.

The present invention solves the drawbacks of conventional work of this type, and provides an inserted part and an inserted part each having a locking means that is inserted into each other and locked and connected, and is fixed to a board, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a component insertion device capable of automatically and rapidly inserting an insertion component into a large number of inserted components and performing the locking connection. In order to achieve all of these objects, the present invention has a hollow part in the central shaft for storing a large number of the above-mentioned insertion parts, and has a cutout groove communicating with the hollow part in the outer wall part at one end, and an opening in the opening part at one end. A component storage case having a component fall prevention means consisting of at least a pair of elastic members projecting a certain distance in the direction of the center of the surface, and supporting the component storage case vertically with one end opening facing downward and fixing it to the substrate, etc. a first node that sequentially moves to the positions of a large number of inserted parts, inserts all the inserted parts located at one end opening in the parts storage case into the inserted parts, and performs the locking connection;・Moves with the first node and enters into the component storage case from the notch groove when inserting the inserted component positioned at one end opening in the component storage case with respect to the inserted component. The robot is fully equipped with a robot having a second node for supporting the inserted component, and the elastic member of the component fall prevention means moves the inserted component located at one end opening in the component storage case with respect to the inserted component. After insertion and locking, when the vaginal parts storage case is moved in the anti-insertion direction, the one end opening is elastically displaced to open and the inserted part is removed from the inside of the parts storage case. It is something.

Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the present invention is applied to a case where a push button is inserted into the switch body of a push button switch which is arranged and fixed at a predetermined position on a printed circuit board in order to assemble a flat quennel switch. This will be explained using drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the overall configuration of the device according to the present invention used in the examples, and 1 is a plurality of inserted components arranged and fixed at predetermined positions on a printed wiring board 8. A switch body of the push button switch, 9 a parts storage case in which a large number of push buttons 2 of the push button switch are inserted, and 15 a first hand 16 and a second hand r]
7f: This is a mouth kit with. As shown in FIG. 2, the push button switch is composed of two bodies, a switch body 1 and a push button 2, both of which are provided with locking means that can be inserted into each other and locked and connected. That is, the switch body 1 has a prismatic protrusion 4 at the tip of a push rod 3 that opens and closes the switch, while the push button 2, which is formed from a flexible material in the shape of a rectangular plate, has the above-mentioned protrusion 4 at the center of its lower surface. Four locking arms 6 are provided so as to form a fitting space 5 into which the projection 4 can be fitted.
h: Extends downward, and has locking claws 7 □ and 7 protruding from the ends thereof in directions opposite to each other. The switch body 1 and the push button 2 are coupled together by inserting the fitting space 5 of the push button 2 into the protrusion 4 of the switch body l, and when the fitting space 5 is inserted into the protrusion 4, the fitting space 5 is formed. Each locking arm 6. ... 6 are bent in the direction away from each other, and each of the locking claws 7. ... slides on the side wall of the protrusion 4, and when the insertion is completed, each locking arm 6. Each locking pawl 7. ... is engaged with the lower edge of the protrusion 4, and the two are integrally connected. Switch body 1 like this
A large number of push buttons 2 are arranged and fixed at predetermined positions on a printed wiring board 8, and a large number of push buttons 2 are stored in a component storage case 9 in rotational alignment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the component storage case 9 is formed into a rectangular tube shape with openings at both ends, and the vertical and horizontal width dimensions of the hollow portion 10 are approximately the same as the vertical and horizontal width dimensions of the push button 2. A large number of push buttons 2 are stacked and stored in the hollow part 10.

At the lower end of the parts storage case, there are outer walls 11a facing each other as shown in FIG.

One outer wall 11 connecting most of 11b and those outer walls.
A pair of opposing notch grooves 12, 12 are provided which communicate with the hollow portion 10 cut out in an L-shape in the transverse direction so as to slightly cut into both side edges of the groove.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end opening 13 of the parts storage case 9 is provided with means for preventing parts from falling, which is comprised of a pair of leaf springs 14 and 14. The leaf springs 14 are formed by punching a rectangular shape from an elastic metal plate and bending the central part in the longitudinal direction to form an L-shape. They are fixed by screws to the lower ends, that is, the outer wall 11d without the cutout groove 12 and the lower end of the outer wall 11c facing this outer wall, respectively, and the other end of the pair of leaf springs 14 and 14. extend in a cantilever-like manner along the opening surface of the lower end opening 13 in the direction of its center, facing each other, and their tip ends are connected to the lower end opening 13.
It sticks out a little further away.

The protruding portion of the leaf spring 14, 14 into the lower end opening 13 supports the lower end edge of the push button 2 stored in the component storage case 9 and prevents it from escaping to the outside.

The panel of this plate spring 14.14 for supporting the push buttons 2 into the parts storage case 9 has a large gravity force for the number of push buttons 2 that can be stored in the parts storage case 9, and the switch body 1
The locking force is selected to be smaller than the locking force of the locking means between the push button 2 and the push button 2. Parts storage case 9 configured in this way
As shown in FIG. 1, is gripped by the first hand of the robot 15, is vertically supported with the lower end opening 13 facing downward, and is moved three-dimensionally. The first hand 16 has a pair of fingers 16a and 16b that open and close, and grips and supports a predetermined outer wall portion of the component storage case 9 by opening and closing the fingers. A second hand 17 is provided directly below the first hand 16 and shares an arm with the first hand 16, and this hand 17 moves together with the hand 16. The second hand 17 has a pair of fingers 17a that open and close in the same way as the first hand 16.
.

17b, and when the first hand 16 grasps a predetermined outer wall portion of the component storage case 9 as shown in FIG.

17b are a pair of notch grooves 10 of the parts storage case 9, respectively.
．． It is located on the side of 10. 1st
The opening and closing operations of the fingers of the second hand 16 and the second hand 17 can be independently controlled by commands from the control device of the robot 15.

Next, the operation of inserting the push button 2 into the switch body 1 using the device of this embodiment will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, a printed wiring board 8 on which a large number of switch bodies 1 are arranged and fixed at predetermined positions on one surface thereof is prepared, and this printed wiring board 8 is used as the switch body 1 on which the switch body 1 is arranged. Mouth d with the face facing upward? Fix it in place within the working area of Watt 5. In addition, a parts storage case 9 in which a large number of push buttons 2 are stacked and stored with their fitting spaces 5 facing the lower end opening 13 is prepared, and this parts storage case 9 is placed at the parts storage case takeout position within the work area of the robot 15. Place it vertically with the bottom opening 13 facing down. Once these preparations are complete, robot 1
Step 5 starts inserting the push button 2 into the switch body 1. In other words, mouth i? , ) 15 extends its arm and faces the parts storage case take-out position, and here the first /% hand 16 closes its respective phases 16a and 1fib and moves to a predetermined position of the parts storage case 9 as shown in FIG. Grasp the outer wall 11a, Ilb portion above the pair of notch grooves 12', 12 and vertically support the component storage case 9 with the outer wall 1], c facing toward you. At this time, each phase 17a, 17b of the second node 17 is located on the side of each notch groove 12, 12 in an open state, as clearly shown in FIG. It has entered into ゜12 and hollow part 1
The lower end opening of 0] is kept a small distance from the side surface of the push button 2 located at 3. Next, like this, parts storage case 9
The component storage case 9 is moved to the printed wiring board 8 as shown in FIG.
A fitting space 5 of a push button 2 located directly above one of the upper switch bodies 1 and exposed at a lower end opening 13 of a component storage case 9 is opposed to a protrusion 4 of the switch body 1. And when each phase 17a, 17b of the 2nd hand 17 is closed here, each phase 17a.

17b enters into the hollow portion 10 from each notch groove 12.12 and grips and supports the side surface of the push button 2 located on the lower end opening 13 side. FIG. 5 shows this state.

Next, when the first 7-hand 16 is lowered from the state shown in FIG.
inserted into. Four locking arms 6 that form a fitting space 5 during this insertion. ...Latching claw at the tip of 6 7. ...7 is protrusion 4
A reaction force is generated by contact with the upper edge, and a force is applied to push up the push button 2. However, as mentioned above, this push button 2 is supported by the second pad, so the insertion operation continues without being pushed up. Then, each locking arm 6.6 is deflected away from each other so that its locking claw 7 slides on each side wall of projection 4, and when insertion is complete, each locking arm 6. ...Each locking claw 7. due to the elastic return of 6. - 7 are respectively locked to the lower edge of the protrusion 4.

FIG. 6 shows this state, and the switch body 1 and the push button 2 located on the lower end opening 13 side among the many push buttons 2 in the component storage case 9 are in a coupled state. At this point, the lowering of the first node 16 is stopped, and each phase 17a of the second node 17 is separated.

17b is opened and the push button 2 is released from support. Then, when the first hand 16 is raised, the parts storage case 9 is raised, and the push button 2 located on the lower end opening 13 side of the parts storage case 9, which is locked and connected to the switch body 1 as described above, is lifted. The leaf spring 14.1 which prevents its escape as described above
Since the locking force between the switch body 1 and the push button 2 is greater than the spring force in step 4, the leaf springs 14 and 14 are loosened so that the lower end opening 13 opens as the parts storage case 9 rises. and escape from the parts storage case 9. At the same time that this evacuation is completed, the leaf springs 14, 14 elastically return to close the lower end opening 13, and the next push button 2 in the parts storage case is prevented from escaping. The push buttons 2 in the parts storage case 9 are sequentially sent to the lower end opening 13 side while falling naturally due to their own weight. When the first button stops rising and the state shown in FIG. 7 is reached, the insertion and connection of the push button 2 into one switch body 1 on the printed wiring board 8 is completed. Then, the first hand 16 moves the component storage case 9 to the insertion position of another adjacent switch body 1, returns to the state shown in FIG. Make a locking connection. While repeating these operations, press the push button 2 on the plurality of switch bodies 1 on the printed wiring board 8.
are inserted sequentially and combined. When the push buttons 2 in the parts storage case 9 become empty, the first node 16 moves the entire parts storage case 9 to its release position, releases it, and releases the new parts filling the push buttons 2 at the parts storage case take-out position. Grasp the storage case 9 and move it, and continue inserting the push button 2 into the switch body 1 on the printed wiring board 8 according to the procedure described above. The above-mentioned series of operations in step 15 are sequence-controlled and automatically performed by the control device.

Note that it is necessary to have a component storage case 9 filled with push buttons 2 at all times at the component storage case takeout position so that the supply of push buttons 2 is not interrupted. A large number of parts storage cases 9 may be prepared, and an automatic feeding device for the push button 2 by means of a gear etc. may be provided at the open position of the parts storage cases. The push button 2 is fully automatically supplied into the empty parts storage case 9 released by the press button 2.
The filled parts storage case 9 may be transferred to the parts storage case take-out position, and several parts storage cases 9 may be used in circulation, and various other methods may be considered. Also, the printed wiring board 8 on which the switch body 1 is mounted is transported by a belt conveyor or the like. Cut 1
The panel switch 71 can be assembled efficiently by connecting the front and rear assembly processes using a belt conveyor or the like to form a consistent continuous process.

The present invention is constructed as described above, and includes an inserted part (the push button 2 in the embodiment) and an inserted part (the switch main body in the embodiment), each of which has a locking means that is locked and connected when inserted into each other. ]), when inserting and locking a large number of inserted parts fixed to a board or base, etc., a parts storage case containing a large number of inserted parts is placed in a rotary position. , and the robot's hand automatically performs the above operation, so once the parts storage case is transported from the parts storage case take-out position to the insertion position of the inserted part, the next step is to By simply moving the inserted parts by a short pitch distance, it is possible to continuously insert all the inserted parts one after another into the inserted parts in the parts storage case. For this reason, traditional kissing? There is no need to transport the inserted parts from the part extraction position for each inserted part as is the case with the method using a cutter, and the time required to transport the inserted parts can be significantly reduced, thereby shortening the work time. . Therefore, according to the present invention, this type of work can be performed quickly and automatically, so that work efficiency can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 7 show embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the overall configuration of the device according to the invention, and FIG. 2 shows inserted parts and inserted objects used in the embodiment. Front view of the pushbutton and switch body of the pushbutton switch, part 3
The figures are a front view and a side view showing the lower end portion of the parts storage case, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the device of FIG. 1 during the process of inserting the push button into the switch body of FIG. 2. 1 Switch body, 2 Push button, 8...Printed wiring board, 9 - Components storage case, 10 - Hollow part, 12...
Notch groove, 14・Plate・Gune, 15...mouth &t, 16・
- 1st hand, 17... 2nd hand. Agent Patent Attorney Ojibe Ogawa

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Insert the inserted part into a large number of inserted parts and inserted parts, each of which has a locking means that can be locked and connected by inserting each other (C), and which are fixed to a board etc. In the component insertion device that performs the above-mentioned locking connection, the central shaft has a hollow portion for accommodating a large number of the inserted components, and the outer wall portion at one end has a notched groove communicating with the hollow portion, and the opening at one end has a hollow portion for storing a plurality of the inserted components. A parts storage case having means for preventing parts from falling, which is made up of at least a pair of elastic members facing each other and projecting a certain distance in the direction of the center of the opening surface, and supporting the parts storage case vertically with the opening at one end thereof facing downward. At the same time, the parts to be inserted are fixed to the board, etc.)
a first...nd which sequentially moves to that position and inserts the insertion component located at one end opening in the component storage case into the inserted component and performs the locking connection; 1, and when inserting the inserted component located at one end opening of the component storage case into the inserted component, enters into the component storage case through the notch groove and supports the inserted component. and a robot having a second hand, and the elastic member of the component fall prevention means inserts and locks the insertion component located at one end opening of the component storage case into the inserted component. A component insertion device characterized in that when a hindlimb component storage case is moved in a counter-insertion direction, the one end opening is elastically displaced so that the inserted component can be pulled out from inside the component storage case.